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Val Doonican - Rocking... But Gently

Val Doonican - Rocking... But Gently: 30/07/2015

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30/07/2015

BBC Radio 2 - Val Doonican - Rocking... But Gently, 30/07/2015

Patrick Kielty presents the Val Doonican story.

Patrick Kielty presents a profile of Val Doonican, a story of a rocking chair, woolly jumpers and Irish charm.

In this revised repeat, originally broadcast in 2011, Radio 2 rembembers Irish singer and TV entertainer Val Doonican, who died earlier this month, aged 88.

Val Doonican's gentle baritone voice and Irish humour instantly endeared him to the British public - at its height, 20 million viewers tuned in to watch The Val Doonican Show.

Patrick Kielty goes in search of the secret of his enduring success, tracing Val's journey from the days when he arranged songs for his siblings in his Waterford bedroom, to his arrival as the king of Saturday night TV.

Friends and colleagues, including Terry Wogan and Ronnie Corbett, ponder the popularity of Val's showbiz trademarks, props and the comic Irish songs for which he's most remembered. Gaudy jumpers and Paddy McGinty's Goat aside, in-depth interviews with Val Doonican allow room for reflection on a career at the top of the TV industry.

Other contributors include Lynn Doonican, Ronnie Corbett, Yvonne Littlewood, Terry Wogan, Roger Richards, Jim Moir, John Williams and John Ammonds. Music and television archive from his earliest musical influences; to his musical collaborations with stars like Rosemary Clooney, John Williams and Crystal Gayle; also reveal a man with considerable musical talent and a unerring professionalism.

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

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Patrick Kielty presents the story of Val Doonican

Patrick Kielty presents a two part series charting a story of a rocking chair, woolly jumpers and the Irish charm of Val Doonican

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Val Doonican - Rocking... But Gently

30/07/2015

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